A pair of burglars was arrested by St. Bernard police after they hung a stolen blanket in their window to hide the loot, authorities said.

Steve Cannizaro / SBSO

St. Bernard Parish sheriff's deputies handcuff Lisa J. Smith and Troy Clouatre after stopping their vehicle on Paris Road on Wednesday, Oct. 1. They were both booked with simple burglary and possession of stolen property worth more than $5,000.

According to police, Lisa Smith, 47, and her nephew Troy Clouatre, 35, burglarized the other half of their double residence.

Smith and Clouatre were booked after their neighbors, who had been away from their home for several weeks and returned home to find it burglarized, spotted their blanket in the window of Smith and Clouatre's side of the double, police said.

The neighbors reported the crime to police and detectives obtained a search warrant, finding, in addition to the stolen blanket, electronic devices, police said.  Police believe that Smith and Clouarte used the stolen blanket to hide the rest of the stolen property.

Smith and Clouatre drove by the scene while police were investigating and attempted to drive away but were caught a short distance from the house, police said.

“This is like something out of ‘World’s Stupidest Criminals,’’’ St. Bernard Sheriff Stephens said. “But we’ll take any help we can get in solving a crime.’’

Clouatre and Smith were booked with simple burglary and possession of more than $5,000 of stolen property, police said.